MySQLism: avoid using MySQL REPLACE syntax

Last updated on
8 September 2016

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MySQL allows running INSERT or UPDATE in one single query, which is extremely useful.

REPLACE works exactly like INSERT, except that if an old row in the table has the same value as a new row for a PRIMARY KEY or a UNIQUE index, the old row is deleted before the new row is inserted.

Unfortunately, this MySQL syntax is not supported by any other database. It should be avoided.

Try to use a combination of INSERTs and UPDATEs.

Reference: MySQL replace command.

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